1. What is IMPERIALISM

2. What Is Imperialism?
Definition: the policy of extending a nation’s authority over other countries by economic, political, or military means.
Usually in effort to obtain something for the Motherland

3. Example of Imperialism
Example: The Conquistadors from Spain coming to the Americas.
Motive: To bring treasures, gold, resources back to Spain.

4. The New Manifest Destiny
What is Manifest Destiny?
It is the United States destiny to expand to the West Coast in the 1840s.
By 1890s, Americans were ready to resume Manifest Destiny – where were they to go?

5. American Attention Shifts
Causes for us starting to look Overseas:
Industrialization caused
More Natural Resources – and we had “closed the frontier”
New Markets – Ex Depression, needed people to buy goods.
Places to stop on trade routes
We controlled the Natives, we can control others
Imperialist fever raging in Europe

6. Justification vs. Motives
What is a Justification?
An excuse for an action
“Mom I got this job cause I want to show you that I can be responsible.”
What is a Motive?
The real reason for an action
“I got this job cause I wanted to buy the iphone.”

7. Justifications for Imperialism
People in America founded justifications for expansionism:
Social Darwinism:
nations or races were treated like biological species, so for strong nations to control/dominate weak ones was in accordance with the laws of nature

8. Justifications for Imperialism
2. Anglo-Saxon Superiority:
combined philosophy of Social Darwinism with the belief of racial superiority of Anglo-Saxons.
- US responsibility to spread Christianity and civilization to “inferior” peoples.

9. Motives for Imperialism
Military Strength:
Alfred Thayer Mahan -The Influence of Sea Power upon History – (1890)
sea power = great nations of history
effective sea power required colonies.
- America should acquire: Caribbean, Hawaii, Pacific Islands

10. Motives for Imperialism
2. Showing off United States Strength and Power:
shows strength in conquering and controlling these regions.

11. Motives for Imperialism
Turner Thesis: stated the American frontier has closed, and that expanding frontier creates new cultures and democracy.
- New Resources needed

12. Motives for Imperialism
4. A Thirst for New Markets:
American farms and factories produce more than the American public could consume b/c of technology.
- US needed new raw materials for factories and new markets for its manufactured goods